Player Who Became A Constellation [EN]: Chapter 21

The Player Who Became a Constellation – Episode 21

Kudan’s bulging, muscular body, his fiercely contorted face, and his eyes bloodshot like an enraged bull—

He was every bit the strongest warrior of the Nodot tribe.

Cancun’s body stiffened.

The courage she had just mustered to charge forward vanished, leaving only a trembling coward.

As she backed away, she heard someone’s voice.

“Planning to run again?”

She flinched!

“Where did the confident one from just now go?”

A tone mixed with mockery and teasing.

Loki was sitting casually with his legs bent on the icy path.

At that sight, Cancun’s trembling stopped as if it were a lie.

Cancun took a deep breath.

‘Thump!’ At the same moment, she saw the warhammer right in front of her nose.

Startled, Cancun reflexively twisted her head.

The warhammer passed by, almost touching the tip of her nose, and the wind pressure sharply struck her face.

Cancun almost fell but quickly regained her balance.

She swung Brutgang towards Kudan’s neck, but…

Thwack-!

All Cancun felt was pain in her face.

Kudan’s foot had kicked her face.

Cancun was knocked away and slid right next to Loki.

She spat out blood and gritted her teeth.

“Need some help?”

Loki said with a playfully teasing tone.

“I’m okay!”

“Alright, then I guess you don’t need a potion either.”

“…C-Can you give me one?”

“Weren’t we fighting fair and square?”

“…What’s fair and square in war?”

Loki burst into laughter.

Cancun was probably only thinking about stopping Kudan and gaining his recognition.

Loki held out a potion, and Cancun drank a bottle, inhaling sharply.

Just then, Kudan charged.

What he saw was Loki holding Cancun in his arms.

Cancun gritted her teeth and deflected the warhammer flying towards Loki with her sword.

“She blocked it? She’s gotten stronger than before?”

Only then did Kudan’s gaze turn towards Cancun.

She dove into Kudan’s body and swung her sword.

Kudan gradually retreated, shifting his focus to defense rather than offense.

Watching that, Loki burst into laughter.

“…Her attacks are getting faster and faster. It’s not just my imagination. Is she growing in the middle of the fight?”

Cancun used her small size to penetrate as deeply as possible into Kudan’s body.

The more she did, the less Kudan could attack her because of his own size.

Brutgang was swung. And little by little, scratches began to appear on Kudan’s body.

‘Faster?!’

It had only been a few months since he had last seen her, but even so, this level of growth was abnormal.

‘What did that devil do?’

In that instant, a sword narrowly passed by Kudan’s neck.

Small droplets of blood splattered from his neck, and Kudan’s eyes widened.

“Now’s not the time to be distracted!”

Cancun’s Brutgang reached right in front of Kudan’s face. Horror filled Kudan’s eyes.

Block? Too late! Dodge? That’s already…!

“This…!”

‘Too late…!’

“I won…!”

Cancun smiled faintly.

Brutgang struck Kudan’s face head-on.

The face of Cancun, who had stabbed the sword, stiffened.

Crack!

“……!”

He caught the sword with his teeth?!

Kudan’s teeth were biting down on Cancun’s blade.

Whether he was enduring with all his might, the veins around his jaw were bulging, and blood was pooling in his gums. Even with his teeth crushed, he was barely holding onto the sword.

Kudan pulled his fist back.

At that sight, Cancun felt her heart sink. She tried to pull out her sword urgently, but it was not coming out of Kudan’s mouth.

Kudan’s fist struck Cancun’s body.

Clang-!

But golden light burst from Cancun’s body, deflecting Kudan’s fist.

“……!”

Cancun’s eyes widened at the sight. And her gaze turned to Loki, and she recalled what he had said.

“That sword has three abilities.”

One of them.

“It can form a shield of protection.”

The light of protection that protected Cancun!

A shield was enveloping her like armor, protecting her.

“The ability of healing and purification….”

The armor of light that had been guarding Cancun permeated her body.

All her wounds began to heal.

Light’s protection and healing.

All of this was the blessing the holy sword had bestowed upon her.

‘Right, Loki is protecting me!’

Loki gave her the sword. This isn’t just her fight.

The constellation is protecting her!

And Cancun recalled.

The strike she had acquired through countless training sessions.

“It can unleash a strike of light.”

The strike of light that Loki had taught her!

Cancun opened her mouth. Letting out a shout, she raised her sword.

Golden radiance swirled from her sword.

A sacred aura dwelled within, dyeing the surroundings with bright light.

Kudan’s eyes widened as he watched the scene.

Magnificent light!

The energy enveloping the sword spread out widely.

The wounds of the injured Nordics were healed by the wave of light.

“M-My god! My body…!?”

“I’m being healed!”

And the spread wave of light gathered again. Swirling like a storm, it permeated the blade.

“What-!”

As far as Kudan knew, Cancun did not possess such power.

Even if she had trained with hatred, there was no way she could have grown so much in just half a year.

‘Then…!’

Did the devil who had seduced her give her such power?

But what is this noble and beautiful light?!

She was protected by sacred armor, and a mysterious light healed her.

If an evil being had given her power, such a phenomenon could not have occurred.

‘Right, he is….’

Loki is not a devil. A ‘constellation’ called a devil.

And the chosen shaman, Cancun Ragna.

“Now.”

Kudan’s eyes widened.

He met Cancun’s eyes.

“Let’s end this now, Uncle.”

Smiling gently, she brought down her sword.

Light exploded from the spot where the sword left its trajectory as it slashed down.

The strike of light, as if to devour everything around it, swirled and flew towards Kudan.

Kudan raised his warhammer and swelled his muscles.

Increasing his strength thousands of times, he swung with all his might to counter the incoming strike.

Bang-!!!!

The warhammer vibrated against the swirling strike of light.

The light swirled, shattering the warhammer into pieces, into units of particles.

The veins in Kudan’s arms, which were giving strength, burst, and blood poured out.

Beyond the warhammer, even his own hands were disappearing.

He can’t stop it.

This strike will devour him!

Kudan sensed that.

‘I see.’

Kudan recalled the things he had done so far.

Though it was to protect Cancun, he had killed his own brother, Cancun’s father.

He had caused a rebellion, involving not only the elders but also innocent tribesmen.

He had committed ‘sin’ accordingly.

The Constellation of Sin is the one who governs sin.

And the fact that he chose Cancun must be to judge him.

His vision turned white.

In an instant, everything became quiet.

No sound could be heard. It was silent.

The painful aches all disappeared.

Rather than pain, he felt a comfortable sensation, and strength drained from his entire body.

His eyelids grew heavy, and his mind became hazy.

The light had devoured Kudan.

‘Haa… hahaha… Is this… death?’

The light gradually disappeared.

He knelt down.

His vision gradually blurred.

‘I’m getting sleepy.’

It was truly surprisingly comfortable. At that, Kudan smiled bitterly.

‘Am I going to die like this? Me?’

Kudan looked at the devil and reached out his vanished hand.

The devil did not answer him. He was just watching his end to the very end.

Like a god watching the scene of a glorious warrior meeting his end. Then, a girl caught his eye.

She ran to Kudan, hugged him, and cried. He couldn’t hear her, but she must have been crying at the top of her lungs.

Kudan turned his eyes and looked at the devil.

He mouthed the words.

-Well done. Kudan Ragna.

He didn’t have the ability to read minds or understand the meaning of people’s lip movements. But it felt like the devil’s words were etched into his mind. And Kudan realized.

That he was not a devil who had seduced Cancun, but a constellation.

‘Ha, hahaha….’

Cancun approached and supported him.

“Cancun… you’ve grown up… well….”

His blood poured onto her face, and his body slumped.

His one and only lovely niece, a man who thought of her as a daughter.

With Cancun’s strike… the valiant warrior Kudan Ragna fell.

***

“It’s over.”

Loki rose from his seat. And looking at Kudan, who had fallen right in front of him, his eyes curved.

It was a satisfied smile.

“Quite a good character.”

Loki took out a potion from his pocket.

“There’s something I want to hear from you. Besides, it would be a waste to throw away such a valuable talent like this.”

Loki poured the potion onto Kudan’s body.

The potion permeated Kudan’s body, and the wounds began to heal.

Next to him, Cancun was fidgeting anxiously, but Loki ignored her and stared blankly at Aum Linia, who was sitting down in a daze.

“Broken?”

“…Still alive. That con artist!”

There were thorns in his words, but his voice was full of fear.

“Good. His spirit is alive. Can you move? Follow me.”

“Foll…ow?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not going to kill me?”

“My goal is Kudan. There’s something I want to ask this guy. Also, you said it a while ago.”

“……?”

“Didn’t you say you were thinking about exchanging [pledging allegiance]?”

“……!”

“I’m hooked on city-building games these days.”

Loki referred to prospering Valhalla as simply a game.

“To grow a city, you need a lot of exchange. To do that, you need to exchange with other tribes. I want you to come to me.”

“…What if… I run away?”

“If you have a curse planted on you, you won’t even think about it.”

“…….”

“If you feel responsible for this, follow me. Then, I’ll heal all the guys who are on the verge of death right now.”

As Loki turned his back, the undead began to examine the dying Nordics and heal them with potions.

Cancun also followed Loki.

In the quiet silence, Aum also stood up.

He is a loser.

He had to take responsibility for this.

He staggered and followed Loki.

***

How many days had passed?

Kudan stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling for a while.

“Where is this…?”

“I heard it’s an empty cabin in Valhalla.”

Kudan was startled and looked around.

The owner of the familiar voice.

The one who had overturned and fallen while leading the chariot.

“Per!!”

Aum’s younger brother, Per, shrugged.

“And the niece you were looking for so much is over there….”

Kudan looked at where Per was pointing.

Cancun, covered in a blanket, was sleeping in the corner of the room.

“…She’s alive. Cancun.”

“She’s the one who killed you, though.”

“Kill…? Oh? Come to think of it, how are we alive? And… weren’t you overturned in a chariot and died?”

“I thought so… but I was alive with my neck broken.”

Kudan looked at Per with disgusted eyes.

“…Alive with your neck broken? Are you human?”

“I’m just a body, but you had your arms and chest ripped open and your heart exploded. To hear that from someone who was still moving after that….”

Per shook his head.

Either way, the two men’s vitality was at the level of cockroaches.

“I don’t know the details, but I heard it’s thanks to a potion close to a ‘miracle’ that can save you as long as you don’t die. They say it’s almost like the blood of a god… I don’t know exactly.”

“…Did the devil save us?”

At those words, Kudan thought of the devil.

Why did that devil save him? Does he have enough leeway to save an opponent he hated so much and tried to kill? Or….

Kudan turned his gaze to Cancun.

Whether Per and Kudan’s conversation was too loud, Cancun stirred and gently opened her eyes.

And when she met Kudan’s eyes, she widened her eyes as if surprised.

“Can…cun!”

“Huh?!”

At Kudan’s words, Cancun quickly grabbed the sword next to her and pointed it at Kudan. A wary gaze, yet with a somewhat embarrassed expression.

“Hey, little lady. Isn’t it already settled? What are you going to do if the guy who was nursing you until just now is now holding a sword and standing there ready to kill you?”

At Per’s words, Cancun pursed her lips and lowered her sword. Avoiding Kudan’s gaze, she spoke cautiously.

“…You just woke up. It’s been 3 days.”

“3 days?”

“I guess I was sleeping that long. In my case, about two days?”

Per shrugged.

“And when I was awake, that girl was always next to you.”

“…Really?”

“…Please get your own breakfast. You must be hungry after sleeping for 3 days.”

Cancun said that and opened the door.

“…And Loki is calling for you. Go find him later. And… sorry for misunderstanding, Uncle.”

Leaving those words, Cancun closed the door and left.

“Looks like she’s forgiven you.”

“Huh?”

Per smiled and pointed at Kudan.

“Cancun has forgiven you.”

“There’s no way….”

“If she hadn’t forgiven you, she wouldn’t have said sorry and used the word uncle.”

“Even so… my sins don’t disappear.”

“But you can atone.”

“……”

“And let’s go soon.”

“Where to…?”

“To where my brother is. And to that devil who saved us, no. To the constellation.”